Plath and Hughes on their honeymoon in Paris, 1956. Sylvia Plath (October 27, 1932 - February 11, 1963) was an American poet, novelist, and short story writer. Edward James Hughes (Augus 17, 1930 - October 28, 1998) was an English poet and children's writer. Critics frequently rank him as one of the best poets of his generation, and one of the 20th century's greatest writers. He served as Poet Laureate from 1984 until his death. Hughes was married to Sylvia Plath from 1956 until her suicide in 1963 at the age of 30. Some feminists and some American admirers of Plath blamed him for her death. His last poetic work, Birthday Letters (1998), explored their complex relationship. These poems make reference to Plath's suicide, but none addresses directly the circumstances of her death. A poem discovered in October 2010, Last letter, describes what happened during the three days before her death.